Lookout Point claims another life

For the first time since Butte County took possession of a portion of Lookout Point, someone has gone over the cliff to his death.

However, instead of driving off the point between Chico and Paradise off the Skyway, Friday evening's victim apparently rode a bicycle to the location and leapt off the cliff.

The victim, described as a white man in his 40s, apparently jumped from the area uphill from the fenced and guardrail-protected overlook developed by Butte County in 2008.

Rescuers were summoned to the scene just before 6 p.m. Friday. Seven fire engines, three first responder vehicles and two search and rescue vehicles responded to the scene.

California Highway Patrol and Butte County deputies reportedly found a bike at the top of Lookout Point.

The body was found about 40 feet down the cliff, according to rescuers at the scene.

"It's unknown exactly how long he's been there," said Butte County Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Bottom. "We have a preliminary identification, but the name is being withheld until notification of next of kin."

Search and Rescue workers were working Friday night to retrieve the man's body. They were reportedly using a Stokes basket to carry the body out up a trail below Lookout Point.

A lane of the Skyway was closed about 8 p.m. to facilitate the recovery.

Estimates vary as to how many people have driven off the cliff to their deaths, but 52 cars were hoisted from the bottom in May of 2008, before construction at the overlook began. A similar operation in the 1980s had pulled 35 cars out of the canyon.